MLB News

Alfaro (sore knee) hits pinch-hit go-ahead single

Catcher left Friday's game with after slipping in pursuit of wild pitch

By
Joe HarrisSpecial to MLB.com

ST. LOUIS -- Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro was a late scratch with right knee soreness against the Cardinals. But he pinch-hit in a key situation in Saturday's game, driving in the go-ahead run in the eighth with an infield single in the Phillies' 7-6 win.

Alfaro left Friday's 12-4 loss to the Cardinals in the fifth inning. He suffered the injury after his foot slipped out from under him while he was running down a wild pitch.

ST. LOUIS -- Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro was a late scratch with right knee soreness against the Cardinals. But he pinch-hit in a key situation in Saturday's game, driving in the go-ahead run in the eighth with an infield single in the Phillies' 7-6 win.

Alfaro left Friday's 12-4 loss to the Cardinals in the fifth inning. He suffered the injury after his foot slipped out from under him while he was running down a wild pitch.

"He's going to be just fine, but that was precautionary as well," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after the game. "It was really kind of messy conditions out there. I just wanted to get him out of there to be cautious."

Per custom, Kapler did not speak to the media prior to Saturday's game.

Alfaro was in the Phillies' original lineup in the No. 5 spot, but was scratched after testing out the knee on the field. He was replaced by Andrew Knapp.

Alfaro has been hot at the plate --- he is riding a four-game hitting streak and has hit safely in six of his last seven. He is hitting .429 (9-for-21) and has raised his average from .211 to .258 during that span.

Alfaro had doubled and walked in his two plate appearances before leaving Friday's game.

"I think, in Alfy's case, he has become more and more confident as the season has progressed and I think it all starts with his athleticism, his overall defense, but definitely the athleticism that he brings to the field every day," Kapler told reporters before Friday's game. "The way he moves around, the power, the agility, that kind of makes you puff your chest out a little bit when you have that skillset, and it is on par with the most athletic catchers in the game right now, without a doubt. He's confident right now."